Aircraft



0a. 25, 1932, c. w. HOWARD 1,884,701

AIRCRAFT Filed June 4, 1950 2 Shets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR CLINTON W HownRD C. W. HOWARD AIRCRAFT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 'INVENTOR CL/N mm W HOWAR Patented Oct. 25, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application filed June 4, 1930. Serial No. 459,231.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED APRIL 30, 1828; 370 0. G. 757) The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the 7 payment to me of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates generally to improvements in aircraft and more particularly to improved means for controlling the forward motion of the aircraft when moving over the ground.

As is well known, directional changes'in the forward motion of the aircraft over the 1 ground is now attained by using a unitary brake and ruddercontrol mechanism for the landing wheel brakes and rudder of the aircraft, the brake control mechanism not only assisting the rudder and guiding the aircraft over the ground by selectively operating either landing wheel brake; but also serving the purpose of restraining the forward I110- tion of the aircraft by simultaneous operation of both foot brakes whereby to quickly bring the aircraft to a stop. In this type of brake and rudder control mechanism the brake pedal for operating the brakes is usually pivotally mounted upon the rudder control mechanism; the foot occupies practically the same position for both brake and rudder t e foot being required for rudder operation and a pivoting movement about the ankle for rake operation. In operating the rudder control mechanism the heel of the foot normally rests on the floor of the cockpit so that the ball of the foot may be used to apply pressure directly to the brake or rudder control. Consequently the natural angular position thus assumed by the foot when in rudder operating position effects a partial and unintentional operation of the brake control mechanism due mainly to this particular design of pedal arrangement and the method of carrying the same upon the rudder control mechanism.

A primary object, therefore, of the prescut invention is to provide a novel brake pedal which is carried by the rudder control mechanism whereby independent operation of either the brake or rudder control mechanism may be effected without lifting the foot from the controlling mechanism, the latter lperation, a bodily fore and aft movement of being accomplished by a sliding motion of the foot from one control position to the other. The possibilities of the aviator inadvertently operating the brakes when it is his intention to operate the rudder control are therefore practically eliminated by reason of the fact that the foot occupies distinctly diiferent positions for either brake or rudder operation.

A further object of the present invention to provide a novel brake pedal which is pivotally mounted upon the rudder control mechanism and which is so shaped that when the ball of the foot is used to apply pressure to the rudder control mechanism clearance between the toe and brake pedal is provided so that unintentional operation of the brakes while the foot is in rudder operating position is avoided. According to the present invention the shape of the pedal is such that the foot may change its angular position while operating the rudder control mechanism and yet have no effect on the brake controls. Furthermore, the brake pedal and the rudder control mechanism are constructed in such a manner that the ball of the foot may be used to apply pressure to either the brake control or the rudder control mecha-' motion of the foot nism merely by a sliding from one position to the other.

y invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts to be hereinafter fully, clearly, and concisely described and defined in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective showing the manner in which the brake control for operating the wheel brake is carried by the rudder control mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view incorporating a brake pedal in accordance with my invention shown mounted on a rudder control of the stirrup type.

Fig. 3 is a modified view showing the application of the brake pedal to a rudder control of the bottom hinged type.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a still furtheranodification showing the application of my improved brake ing shown in full line, the dotted line indi control pedal to a rudder bar of conveneating the approximate position required to tional type. operate the brakes, which same is effected Fig. 6 is a side elevation of Fig. 5. merely by a sliding movement of the foot Referring more particularly to the drawfrom one position to the other without re- 79 ings where corresponding parts are deslgnatmoving the foot brake controls. ed by like numerals throughout the various Fig. 3 is a modified form of the invention views thereof, the usual rudder control ped-- wherein the brake control pedal is shown apals indicated by numeral 10 are shown as plied to a bottom hinged type rudder control.

ivotally mounted for fore and aft movement In this form of the invention the brake pedal 75 in the cockpit ofan aircraft convenient to hinges to the upper bar 27 of the rudder conthe pilot or aviator whereby movement of trol and is connected by a simple link arthe rudder pedal by foot pressure actuates rangement generally indicated by numeral 28 therudder 11 through the medium of interto the brake cable 24 for operating the brakes. In accordance with the present invention which the brake control pedal is shown apeach of the landing wheels 13 of the under-. plied to the rudder bar type of control. In carriage of the aircraft is provided with a the arrangement herein shown the rudder bar suitable braking mechanism generally indiis pivoted about a central supporting bracket cated at 14, which may be of a Contracting 29 mounted on the floor of the cockpit and a or expanding type embodying a band 01' brake pedal. is pivotally mounted on a torque brake shoe, it being understood that any well tube 30 forming a part of the rudder bar. In known and efficient method or means for rethis case a bent tube 31 fixedly secured to the tarding the rotation of the wheels now brake pedal, as by welding or any other simiknown, or which may be hereafter developed, lar process, transmits the pressure to the may be used in applying this invention. brake operating cable 32 to a ply the brakes. As will be noted by referring to Fig. 2 the The tube 31 is conveniently bent, as will be rudder control pedals 10, which are of the noted by referring to Figs. 5 and 6, so that the stirrup type, are shown pivotally mounted to point of attachment of the brake cables will a cross bar 15 carried by the fuselage of the be as near the rudder bar pivoting axis as aircraft a substantial distance above the floor possible. This arrangement prevents any line of the cockpit. At their lower ends the appreciable movement of the brake pedal control pedals 10 are provided with cross when the rudder bar is rotated, but even a tubes 17, upon which the brake control pedals small eccentricity will not result in the appli- 35 are pivotally mounted as shown by numeral cation of the brakes when the rudder is op- 19,t e aforesaid portions of the brake pedals erated if there is no resisting force on the also serving as a means for applying foot upper bar of the brake pedal. pressure to the rudder pedal in operating the While this invention has been described rudder. Each brake pedal is provided adj amore or less specifically with reference to the connected cables 12. Fig. 5 shows a still further modification in 80 40 cent its pivoted end with a brake control arm arrangements herein shown, it is again point 20, suitably connected to a cooperating coned out that the showing 1s illustrative and trol arm 21 by means ofthe link member 22 that the invention may be practised in many shown in Fig. 2. The upper control arm is ways utilizing any form of power for appliconveniently mounted for pivotal movement cation of the brakes and for controlling the 45 upon the cross bar 15 heretofore mentioned effectiveness of such power in conjunction and carries a lever 23 to which one end of a with rudder movement. all of such modificacable 24 for operating the wheel brakes is contions or embodiments whereby the objects nected, the other end of the cable being con hereinbefore set forth may be attained falling nected to the wheel brakes in any well known within the spirit of this invention as defined manner. by the appended claims. D The treadle face 25 of each brake pedal is W I h m 6 211 {1 W n lr offset or concave, as will be noticed by referto procure y Letters Patent 15! ring to Fig. 2, so that when the heel of the In a h and rudder Control mecha' 5 foot rests on the floor of the cockpit in operatfor a h control member 5 ing the rudder the toe will not touch the trea- 1 a def P abmke pedzll Plvotal' dle of the brake pedal but will rest on the pivy connected at Its lower end to sald rudder pedal and having a tread portion relieved otmg portlon of the brake Pedal as Shown by adjacent its pivotal end to provide against numeral 26. 60 From the foregoing general description of gggi g g gg ffi Pedal when actuatmg my invention it will be apparent that two dis- 2 In a brake a rudder control mecha h y dlfiereht Posltlohs of e foot are nism for aircraft a rudder control member q to p 9 the f t q and the having a rudder pedal; abrake pedal pivotalbrake control mechanism, the position of the 1y connected at its lower end to said rudder 65 foot when operatlng the rudder control bepedal, said brake pedal having a portion re- 13c lieved adj acentits pivotal end and having its upper end disposed substantially in the p am of the rudder pedal so that a sliding movement of the foot from normal rudder operating position is required to operate said brake pedal.

3. In a brake and rudder control mechanism for aircraft a rudder control member having a rudder pedal; a brake pedal pivotally connected at one end to said rudder pedal, said brake pedal having its tread portion relieved adjacent its pivotal end and extending upward from said. rudder pedal, the tread portion or" said brake pedal being so disposed relative to said rudder pedal as to require a bodily movement of the operators foot from normal rudder operating position to insure operation of said rudder pedal independently of said brake pedal.

4. 'In a brake and rudder control mechanism for aircraft comprising a rudder control member; a brake pedal pivotally connected at one end to said rudder control member,.said brake pedal having a concave tread portion offset from its pivoted end whereby a bodily vertical movement of the foot from normal rudder operating position is required to actuate said brake pedal.

5. A brake pedal adapted to be pivotally connected to a rudder control mechanism, said brake pedal having a concaved tread portion whereby to permit independent actuation of said rudder control mechanism and said brake pedal.

6. A brake pedal adapted to be pivotally mounted at its lower end to a rudder pedal, said brake pedal having a tread portion relieved adjacent its pivotally mounted end to provide a clearance between the toe and the tread portion of said brake pedal when the operators foot is in normal rudder operating position.

7 A brake pedal adapted to be pivotally mounted at its lower end to a rudder pedal, said brake pedal having its tread portion relieved adjacent its pivotally mounted end and adapted to be so constructed and arranged relative to said rudder pedal as to require a bodily movement of the foot from normal rudder operating position for operating said brake pedal.

8. A brake pedal adapted to be pivotally mounted at its lower end to a rudder pedal, said brake pedal having a tread portion relieved adjacent its pivotally mounted end and so constructed and arranged relative to said rudder bar to require a vertical translatory movement of the foot from the normal rudder operating posit-ion to actuate the brake pedal.

9. A brake pedal adapted to be pivotally mounted at one end to a rudder control mechanism, said brake pedal having a tread portion, the portion of the tread adjacent its pivotally mounted end being concave whereby when the foot is in normal operating position clearance between the toe and said ofl'set tread portion is provided to prevent undesired operation of said brake pedal.

10. In a brake and rudder control mechanism for aircraft, a rudder control member having a rudder pedal provided with a tread, a brake pedal including a tread portion supported at its one end on said rudder pedal, the tread portion of said brake pedal being so disposed with respect to the tread portion of said rudder pedal such that said brake pedal may be operated independently of said rudder pedal.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

CLINTON W. HOW ARD, 

